Sparker or igniter.



UNITED-,STATES PATENT current.

WALTER c. wns'rAwAY, or BnLorr, WISCONSIN, Assrenon, BY eraser ANDians'Nn i ASSIGNMENTS, 'ro J. W, DUNTLEY, orcnrcAGo, rLLrNors.

SPARKE'R oa IGNITER.

'Specication of Letters Patent:

latented J an. 4, 1910.

[o all whom tt may concern: Be it known that I, WALTER C. Wns'rA- WAY, acitizen of the United States, residing at Beloit, county of Rock, andState of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and ilseincreasing thefirst cost of the device.

flo this end my invention consists in the novel construction,arrangement, and combination of parts herein shown and described andmore claims.

In the accompanying drawings wherein like or similar referencecharacters ,indicate like or corresponding parts,"Figure l'is anelevation of an igniter attached in -a comparticularly pointed out inthe bustion chamber. Fig. 2 is a sectional View of part of a combustionchamber showing an igniter plug with parts broken away to more clearlyshow the construction. Fig. 3 is a section taken on line3-3 of Fig. 2.Fig. 4'

is a section similar to that shown in Fig. 3 showing a slightly modifiedform of ignitcr points. l i

In the. drawings I have shown my improvement in connection with a simpleform of igniter mechanism arranged in operative relation with thecombustion chamber of an. Q internal combustion engine orsimilardevice.V

As shown 1 is the combustion chamber;

above referred to, and 2 is an ignitei plug,

of the usual or any preferred constructiom secured into the wall 'of thecombustion provided with the electrode able material,l the e ectrode rod3 bein pro-4 vided with a suitable head 7 upon t e in# terior of thecombustion chamber to which the electrode or contact member 8 isattached. The outer end of the electrode rod 3 is provided with a washer9 and a nut 10,

by which the electrode rod is rigidly secured in place by clamping theinsulated washers 6 6 firmly against the surfaces of the plug 2 betweenthe head 7 and nut 10. A. second nut 11 or equivalent means is arrangedupon the outer end of the electrode rod 3 to provide suitable means forfirmly attaching an electrical conductor'12 to the electrode rod 3shown.

The electrode rod 4 is partially rotatable and extends through asuitable opening in the plug 2 and is provided upon its inner end With ahead 14 arranged to'bear against the inner face of the plug 2, andhaving a lateral extension, 15 provided to carry an electrode or Contactmember 16 in suc-li a position that by a partial rotation of theelectrode rod 4 the face of the electrode lo will be brought intocontact with the face of the electrode 8.

A sleeve 17 is fitted upon the electrode rod 4 outside the'plug 2 andrigidly fixed in position upon'the electrode rod by means oi a. .pin 18or other suitable means for the purpose.` v

nut 19 o'r equivalent means is provided upon the outer end 'of theelectrode rod 4 to provide means for attaching an electrical conductor20 thereto. Obviously as the electrode rod 4 may sometimes not beinsulated 'from'. the plufn2 orother parts of the conibstioncham er; ifpreferred the conductor 120 may, in Such cases, be attached to suoli'other parts as desiredandaccomplish the same resultas when connected asshown.`

'flier spring; 21`is provided preferably in forml sliowfnwithA one endattached to a upon the .pliig2 and the other end at- "taefiedftoanarmQfZ upon the sle ve iT' to 9 Anormally,'maiirit'ain the electrode rod4 in a lp'osition" in Whichthe member 16 is not in Y contact; with themember 8.- A spring 23- or 'equivalent part may be, attached .to thesleeve 17"'by means of the bracket 24 with its free end" extendedinposition to be engaged by a hook 25' or other partwhich is moved in asuitable manner by'means of a crank, cam, or other suitable part,.carried by a suitable movable portion of the engine or device upon.

igniter 1s describedo but my invention re ates yonly to the electrode orcontact members 8 and 16v usually known as igniter points or contactpoints shown in section in Figs. 3 and -l-. These contact members may beof any desired form or size, but provided with a Contact surface onlynear their peripheries.

In the form shown in F ig. tubular contact nienibers are provided, inthis form an opening n? extends longitudinally entirely through eachmember providing a passage for spreading the flame started at thecontact surfaces, thus greatly increasing the initial etl'ective area ofthe ignition. 1n the orin shown in Fig. 1i: the meinberl is providedwith the opening 27 as above described and the member 8 is provided witha plain tlat surface; this form while not as effective as the form shownin F ig. 3 is greatly superior to the usual form of electrode or contactmember. Une advantage of these forms of electrodes not heretoforementioned, is that the contact area is maintained and the well knowntendency of the contact members to wear to a. point by the action of theelectric current and the heat of the combustion chamber is apparentlyentirely overcome. Also apparently owing to the rush of gas from theinterior of the electrodes at each ignition, the faces of the electrodesas well as the interior oiI the opening 2T are free from the usualannoying tendency to accumulate a coating of soot or other dirt.

In my improved points it is proved by actual practice that the abovei'nentioned tend-f ency is obviated or reduced to a minimum, and thatthe points keep clean upon their contact faces and produce a much largerand iiiore intense spark than with the usual fiat or solid points.

Having thus described my improvement,

obviously immaterial modifications may be made without departing fromthe spirit of my invention hence I do not wish to be understood'aslimiting myself to the exact form and construction shown.

What l claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device or" the kind described, electrodes provided withcooperating flat meeting surfaces which contact only near the peripheryor" each, one of said electrodes cony sisting of a tubular member havinga direct passage entirel therhrough, with a Contact surface forme at oneend.

2. In a device of the kind described, electrodes provided withcooperating meeting surfaces, each electrode consisting of a tubularmember having a. direct passage entirely therethrough, with a contactsurface formed at one end.

3. ln a device of the kind described, electrodes provided with similarlyformedflat meeting surfaces which contact only near their periphery,each'electrode consisting of a member with an opening formedlongitudinally therethrough and having a contact surface formed at oneend about said opening.

et. ln a device of the kind described, a combastion chamber, a tubularelectrode open at both ends positioned within said chamber,

and means attached to said electrode to 0perate the same ,to make andbreak an electric circuit.

5. In a device or' the kind described, a combustion-chamber, astationary and armovable electrode positioned within said chamber, oneof said .electrodes consisting of a tubular member open at both ends,and means attached to said movable' electrode to operate the sa-me.

6. In a'device 0I' the kind described, a combustion chamber, astationary and a movable electrode positioned within said chamber, eachelectrode consisting ot' a tubular inember open .at both ends 'with anannular con tact surface formed upon its end, and means attached to saidmovable electrode to operate the same.

T. An igiiitei'for internal combustion engines, comprising a stationaryelectrode and a movable electrode, one of said electrodes comprising ahollow tube open at both ends.

8.. An' igniter for internal combustion engines, comprising tworelatively movable electrodes, each formed of a tube open at both ends.

S). Au ignitei for internal combustion en` gines, comprising tworelatively movable clectrodes, each formed of a tube open at both ends,said tubes being in alinement during the igniting action.

'10. An igniter for internal combustion engines, comprising two rods,means for insu lating them from the engine proper, an electrode upon theinner end of one of said rods, and comprising a hollow tube open at bothends and adapted to be moved to a position with one end adjacent one endof the other electrode. and means foi-oscillating the first mentionedrod.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presenceoftwo (2) subscribing witnesses.

WALTER C. VESTAWAY.

Witnesses J. G. 1iVionHnrvi, M. L'. TREADwAY.

